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SYNOPSIS 



HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, 



Late OLD EESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION, 



DURING THE FIRST FIVE YEARS 



S>eb fiijjH infcrca, futjii irrev>ocabilc fempiis. 



IMTTSBURG : 

l'RINTl::> BY MYKRS, SHINKl.K & CO., COKNBR WOOD STREET AND VIRGIN AI.LEV. 

1884. 



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\»> '-»>..•%>■■. . 



[ORGANIZED APRIL 10th, 1879.] 



SYNOPSIS 



PF(0(jE^H)DINC^^^ 

OK THE 

Historical Society, 

OP WBSIIEI^N PENNSYLVANIA, 

(Late OLD EESIDEMS' iSSOCIlTIOlT), 

During tr)e T'lnst P'lve Y e 



ears. 



-Seti fxitjit intcrea, fujjii irrcpocabilc tenipiis. 



PITTSBURG : 

rRl.NTLD KY MYERS, SHINKLE k CU., CORNER WOOD STREET .\ND VIRGIN .M.LIiY. 

1884. 



/^\\ ^-C-t-*-''^ ^AyLf 



Mm 



IM EXCHANGE 
JAN 5 - 1915 



hist of 0fflcers for 1884-1885. 



President : 
Hon. JOHN E. PARKE. 

Viet Presidents : 
Hon. T. J. BiGHAM, Hon. Wm. Little, 

James P. Fleming, John Rippy, 

R. Miller, Jr. Capt. John M. Killen. 

Treasurer : 
John Fullerton. 

Recording Secretary : 
W. M. GORMLY. 

Corresponding Secretary : 
David \V. Miller. 



REPORT 



OF 



GOMMITTE^E ON REVISION. 



We, the Committee appointed at the last meeting of 
our Society to revise the Synopsis of our proceedings 
during the five years since our organization, respect- 
fully report that we have completed the work assigned 
us, and the result of our labor will be found on the fol- 
lowing pages. 

Capt. JOHN M. KILLEN, 
Rev. a. a. LAMBING, A. M., 
Prof. LEONARD H. EATON, 

Com. on Revision. 



Few sections of our country open a more pleasing and varied 
field of study and research to the historian than Western Pennsyl- 
vania. Commencing with the mound-builders of pre-historic times, 
and passing down through the Lanui Lenape and other aboriginal 
tribes to the day when the last remnant of the red race forever dis- 
appeared from our midst, such names as those of Shingiss, Guyasu- 
tha, Ali(]uippa, Captain Jacobs and Pontiac are presented to his 
mind. When the French entered upon the scene the lit^t of historic 
names was continued in La Salle, Chartier, Celoron, Joucaire, Con- 
treccBur, Jumouville, Beaujeux and others. Finally, among the 
names which the English and colonists have inscribed on the pages 
of our history, are those of Trent, Braddock, Dunbar, Armstrong, 
Grant, Forbes, Bouquet, and last and greatest, George Washington. 

Of the early struggles that marked the different changes of rulers, 
the annalist may liegin with those of the savage tribes for the mas- 
tery over these once vast forests, long before the dawn of authentic 
history, and study to sift the truth as far as may be from the muss of 
conflicting myths and traditions. With the arrival of the French, 
and their bloodless victory over the colonists under Ensign Ward, 
began the deadly struggle in which it may be said without exaggera- 
tion that the s})ot uj)on which Pittsburg now stands was for a time 
the central point in the world's history ; its possession being dis- 
puted by the two leading civilized nations of Europe. The battles 
of the Great Meadows, Braddock's Field, Kittanning, Ligonier, and 
Grant's Hill, with the fall of forts Duquesne, Machault or Venango, 
Le Boeuf, and Presqu' Isle, the destruction of the last three, the 
siege of Fort Pitt, and the concluding victory of Bushy Run, in 
the conspiracy of Pontiac, are the footprints which that protracted 
struggle has left on the .sands of time. 



VI PREFACE. 

Passing through the later Indian depredations on the frontiers, 
the historian arrives at the patriotic and noble part which the citi- 
zens of Western Pennsylvania played in the war of 1812, and that 
with Mexico, to the more recent times when in the late rebellion, 
Pennsylvania sent forth her marshalled hordes to maintain the unity 
of our great republic. Add to this the record of our religious, edu- 
cational, commercial, mining, manufacturing, oil producing and ag- 
ricultural interests, and the local historian will have a field for the 
exercise of his industry and research than which few could be more 
pleasing or profitable. 

Yet, strange as it may appear, it was not until very recently that 
an historical society was organized in this portion of our state. Some 
persons, indeed, busied them.selves in collecting and preserving the 
records of our early days, but they w'ere satisfied with the conscious- 
ness that they possessed in their memories and their libraries a fund 
of knowledge not within the reach of the great mass of the peojjle. 
Others imparted a portion of their treasure to the public in books 
and jMipers. But while all recognized the advantage and many felt 
the necessity of an organized society for the collection and preserva- 
tion of our local history, and were forced to confess that we were 
far behind many less favored sections of the country, none seemed 
disposed to move effectively in the matter ; so much so that the So- 
ciety which is now established among us is the result of accident 
rather than of premeditated design, as the reader will see in the 
sequel. Nor need we wonder at this, for our vast industries require 
labor rather than thought, and our peojile prefer making money to 
enjoying it. 

The Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania owes its origin to 
the following' circumstances : In the spring of 1879 a number of 
our older citizens organized " The Old Residents' A.ssociation of 
Pittsburg and Western Pennsylvania," composed of those who had 
spent at least fifty years in this part of the State, for the purpose of 
meeting at certain times to converse and refresh their memories on 
" the deeds of the days of other years." Beneath those gray and 
venerable locks were naturally found to be stored away many inter- 



PREFACE. VU 

esting aud valuable reminiscences that should it was felt, be put on 
record and preserved for future generations. Written papers began 
in time to form a part of the exercises, the original plan wa.s so far 
modified as to admit persons not so ripe in years, and imperceptibly 
the foundation was laid of an historical society. It only remained 
to change the name which was soon done, and the Association as- 
sumed the title of " The Historical Society of Pittsburg aud AVest- 
ern Pennsylvania." The propriety of a further change of uame 
was soon apparent ; it, too, was made, and we now take our place 
among similar organizations as " The Historical Society of Western 
Pennsylvania." 

The following pages are but an abstract of the minutes of the 
Society's meetings under its several forms, and as such are respect- 
fully submitted to the members of the Society, our citizens in gen- 
eral and our sister societies throughout the country, in the hope that 
they will look with encouraging indulgence on our incipient efforts 
in the noble work of collecting and preserving our country's history. 

A. A. L. 



A SYNOPSIS OF THE PROCEEDINGS 

OF THE 

Historical^ $o6i^T\ 

Of" W£)STe)rn Pe)nnSyl,vania. 



As a Society we are now at the close of the first five 3'ears of 
our organization, and are on tlie threshold of the sixth year of 
our existence. It will not be out of place then to review the 
work we have accomplished in the past, note our imperfections 
and take warning thereby, that in the future our work may be 
done with more judgment. With the experience we have gained 
it is hoped at the close of the decade of our Society, we shall have 
laid aside our swaddling clothes and entered upon the course of 
our manhood for more effectual work. 

In the spring of 1879, William Rinchart, John Fullerton and 
the recording secretary, held several interviews in relation to tiie 
calling of a public meeting of all citizens, native and foreign, male 
and female, who had resided in the county fifty years and up- 
wards. The result of these conferences was the calling through the 
jjress of such a meeting in the Methodist Protestant Church, Fifth 
avenue, April 10th, 1879. It is not with any feeling of egotism 
that this Society claims that the meeting was one of the largest 
and most dignified assemblages that ever convened in the city. 
A finer collection of gray heads was never before witnessed. 

On motion of Mr. Rinehart, the Rev. James Allison, D. D., 
was called to the chaii', when the following persons were elected 
officers : Vice-Presidents, Thos. Simmons, L. Peterson, John 
Rippy, Henry Rea, Sr., George Shiras, Reuben Miller, Jr., and 
Gen. Thomas A. Rowley. Secretary, William M. Gormly. 



10 



IIISTiiUU'AI, SDCIIOTY 



Tlie chair called on tlie venerable Rev. Tlionias Sin-ouU, D. D., 
Senior Professor of tlio ReConneil Presbyterian Tlieological Sem- 
inary, Allegiieny, to lead in prayer. 

liettei-s were read from John Vandegrif't, William Ijittle, Geo. 
B. Miltenberger, Mi-s. Simmons. James Atkinson, and George 
Rodgers, regretting their inability from iiifinnities and other dis- 
abilities to be present. 

As Mr. Rinehart was the j)rin)e mover in the matter he Avas 
called on by the chair to state tlie object ot the meeting. He 
said it was, if possible, the formation of a society of old residents 
of Western Pennsylvania. Also the cultivating and continuing 
friendships long since commenced, with a view of forming a his- 
torical society. 

At this meeting a committee of five on ])ermanent organization 
was named. Hon. T. J. Bigham and others made addresses fully 
endorsing the object of a permanent organization. After tender- 
ing a vote of thanks for the \ise of the church, and singing the 
Doxologv, the chair i>roi)ounced the Benediction and the first 
meeting dis])ersed. 

Tiie second meeting convened April 17, ;it the same jilacc, and 
in the absence of Chairman Allison, his Honor, Ex-lMayor A\'il- 
son, was called to the chair. The committee reported the follow- 
ing list of permanent officers for the ensuing year, viz.: 

Hon. T. J. Bigham, President ; Rev. James Allison, D. D., 
Reuben Miller, Jr., Hon. Reuben McCandless, Hon. Wm. Little, 
John Harper, and Wm. M. Darlington, Vice-Presidents; Wil- 
liam Rinehart, Treasurer; William ^1. Gormly, Secretary. 

After some informal discussion the iolk)wing name was adoi)ted 
for the Association, viz.: 

" Old Residents' Association of Piiisburg and Western Penn'd." 

Thus was the Society lamiclied on the ocean of tinu^, an<i, with 
a full cor|)s of officers, prepared for tlie duties of active work. 

May J 5, 1879. 
The meeting was held in the Select Council Cliambcr. 
President Bigham stated the object of the meeting was to 



<1K WESTIOHN IMCXXSYLVAXIA. 1 I 

make arrangements for a dayliglit session on llie a])pr()achiug 
Decoration Day. Tender of gronnils for tiie holding of tlie 
meeting was received from the Allegheny Vaiie>' C.unpmeeting 
Association. Arlington Campmeeting Association also tendered 
its grounds. President Bighani offered the nse of his grounds 
for the purjiose, and after a iViendly interchange of opinion, the 
Arlington grounds at Castle Shannon were selected. 

Decoration Day, May 30. 
This was the first daylight meeting the Society held, and 
from the nature of the circumstances (the day being a legal holi- 
day,) the people generally brought their lunch baskets with 
them. President Bigham called on Rev. S. Williams, D. D., of 
the Baptist Church, to lead in prayer. The first business was a 
paper from Hon. Wm. Little, wiio gave the correct account of 
the mound on Grant's Hill, which tradition would have to be the 
grave of General Grant, of pre-revolutionary fame. The writer 
.stated the mound was erected by an eccentric individual as a jjlace 
to cremate a dead child that he had exhumed from the graveyard 
of the First Presbyterian Church; but citizens interfered and 
prevented the cremation. 

.T. P. Fleming, Esq., read an exhaustive paper on the fire in 
the coal mines on Coal Hill. He gave proof of its existence as 
early as the year 17G6, and traced its devious course through Jie hill 
down to the year 1S40. Mr. F. quoted the views of many scien- 
tific men as to its origin. 

After a recess for lunch President Bighani commenced the de- 
livery of his iiiaugiu-al address, which had been deferred to this 
meeting. 'J'lie atldress abounded in thrilling incidents of this lo- 
cality of over a hundred years ago, ami demonstrated to the pub- 
lic that Mr. B. was a walking or living encyclopedia of statistical 
information of the western part of liis native state, Pennsylvania. 

Judge Parke, of Allegheny City, rea<l a carefully prepared 
historical account of the Morgan family, tracing them from 
"NA'ales, their native place, to their advent in Allegheny, in 1818, 
and de-cribing, from his own recollection, the terrible calamity 
that befell them in the autumn c)f 1820, resulting in the crema- 
tion of their entire family of funr little children on a part of the 
<>rc)und reccntiv occupied l>v the Exposition buildino:s. 



12 HISTOIIICAL SOCIKTY 

Before the Judge took liis seat he read tlie llostcr of tlie " Pitts- 
burg Blues." Tliis company tendered its services to the United 
States, in tiie war of 1812, wiiicii was promptly accepted, and it im- 
mediately entered the service. Tlie following list of otlicers were in 
command : Captain, James R. Butler; First Lieutenant, Matthew 
Magee, First Sergeant, Elijah Troville; Second Sergeant, Isaac 
AVilliams ; Third Sergeant, John Willock ; Fourth Sergeant, 
George Haven ; Corporals, Nathaniel Patterson, John W. Buring, 
Samuel Elliott and Isaac B. Reed ; Ensign, James Irwin. 

Rev. Dr. "Williams made the closing address. He related 
many incidents that occurred over half a century ago, noted the 
improvements that had been made, and spoke of the cotempor- 
aries of his youth, now nearly all gone. He felt the weight of 
years crowtling on him, and believed that ere long many then 
around him would join him in the great beyond. 

The day was all that could be desired, and those who came from 
the city were delighted with the pleasure they had in uatin-e's 
garden, the woods. 

Tiiree of the UKMnbers of the Society, who were present on that 
occasion have since received the final summons : William Rine- 
bart. Treasurer, who died January 9, 1880; John Shipton, Vice- 
President, June, 1880; and Josiali King, December, 1882. 

JoImi Sampson, of Allegheny City, was the first mend)er that 
died, his death oceui-ring June 26, 1879, in the 91st year of liis 

age. 

December 18, 1879. 
The next meeting was held in the Union Teni{)erance Head- 
quarters, Wood street and Sixth avenue. At this meeting the 
deaths of Dr. Jonas R. McClintock and Judge James Veech were 
announced. J. P. Fleming and Peter Peterson were aj)pointcd 
to prepare a paper to be read at the meeting on the 8th prox. 
Judge Parke read a paper on the accidental death of Col. James 
C. Butler — who had just accepted the office of Commandant of 
the "Pittsburg Blues" — as they were celebrating the anniversary 
of Pen-y's victory on Lake Erie, on the 10th day of September, 
1821. On this latter date the Captain had given the order to fire 
by platoons when the sad casualty took jilace. Col. Butler was 
32 years of age. A number of miscellaneous pajjers were read, 
and elicited considerable discussion. 



OF WESTEP.X rKNXSYl.VANIA 13 

January 8, 1880. 
The Association convenecl in tlie same jilace as at the last niect- 
ino-. A nnmber of papers were submitted. President Bigham 
stated in his i)aper tiiat tiiis mild winter reminded himot the mild 
winters of 1824,1825, 1827, and 1828. Judge Parke read a 
paper of his early recollection of Allegheny City. 

February 5, 1880. 
Mr. Fleming, as chairman of the Committee on Archives, re- 
ported j)rogress. Committ'ee continued. Mr. F. spoke encourag- 
ingly of tlie future prospects of the committee. 

President Bigham, as chairman of the committee to report 
testimonials on the deaths of Dr. Jonas R. MeCliutock, James 
Yeecli and Wm. Rinehart, Ti-easurer of the Association, read 
touching j)apers to their memories. Mr. J. P. Fleming, on 
seconding the motion, paid glowing tribute to the memories of 
the deceased, especially of Mr. Rinehart, the late Treasurer. Mr. 
Jolin FuUerton was unanimously elected Treasurer. Mr. Ship- 
ton complained that these rooms were too inaccessible on account 
of the two flights of stairs to climb. 

March 4, 1 880. 
The chair announced the death of George Albree, one of our 
oldest citizens and a gentleman in every sense of the word. Mr. 
J. B. Sheriff read a paper on the difficulties of the people of the 
olden time to procure a sufficient quantity of the aqueous fluid 
for family washing on Mondays, and the erection of the first water 
works in Pittsburg about the year 1828. 

Aprils, 1880. 
Since the last meeting President Bigham and John Shipton, 
members of the City Councils, made application to these bodies 
and were granted permission to gratuitously occupy the CiMiimon 
Council Chamber for our meetings. This being the first annual 
meeting, it was discovered that the Committee on the Constitu- 
tion wa.s not ready to report, but had submitted two forms, the 
manuscripts of which were returned to the Committee to be 
finally prepared and adopted at the May meeting. Tributes on 
the death of George Albree and Alexander Foster were adopted. 
Chairman Bigham gave a thrilling account of the engagement of 



O) 



14 HISTORICAL WK'IETY 

Col. Armstrong iu destroying llie Iiulian town of Kittanning 
for wliicli tlie Colonul was lionoreil by liaving tlie comity ciilleil 
after liim. The constitution not being ready, by common consent 
tlie officers held over for another year. 

3Imj 13, 1880. 
A letter was received from Cicn. James A. Ekin, congratulat- 
ing the memliers of tiio Association on their organization, and 
desiring also to become a nieml)er. The chair announced the de- 
mise of Capt. Robert Eeeri and John B. McFadden. Eeiiben 
Miller, Jr., was called on and responded feelingly. Iu speaking of 
Capt. Beei;^ he said his early life was on the western waters, cap- 
tain of a steamboat. The life of a steamboatraan not being con- 
genial to his conscientious scru])les, and his observance of the Sal)- 
bath, in the year 1845 he disposed of his interest on the river, 
and henceforward until his death lived a blameless life. The 
Constitution of the Association was, after full and free inter- 
change of opinion, unanimously adopted, as recorded on pages 75 
and 78, inclusive, of the minutes. Judge Parke reported that 
one of the (Jouncil Chambers in Allegheny City could be had on 
the second Friday of June, ])roximo. 

Alleuiie>;y City Common Council CiiAMiiKi;, 

June 11,1880. 
The meeting was called to order by Vice-President Hon. Wn\. 
Little, in the absence of Pi'esident Bigham. A letter of acknowl- 
edgment from Gen. James A. Ekin, of Louisville, Ky., of his 
niembershii) in this Association, and the voluntary oifer to deliver 
a lecture at "some future time (D. y.), a sketch of (he lives of 
Eev. John Black, D. D., llev. Robt. Bruce, D. D., and Rev. 
Joseph Kerr, D. D., noble and true men, whose memory is ever- 
lasting." The death of John Shiptou was announced, when 
Judge Parke arose and read a lengthy tribute to his memory. 
The paper was adopted and ordered to be engrossed on the min- 
utes. The death of Jacob Painter, May 14, 1880, was also an- 
nounced. Chairman Little and John F. Jennings spoke of the 
worth of ]Mr. I'ainter as a benefactor in providing the means by 
which a vast number of working men might have steady em- 



OV WESTEUX riCXN'SYLVAXIA. 15 

]il(ivraent. Jiulijc Parke rend a tlirillins^ account of tlie firemen's 
riot tliat occiiiTeil July 16, A. D. 1849, in Allewlieny City. Tlie 
interesting description awakened great interest in tiie Association. 

Septanber 9, 1 880. 
Tlie summer vacation now over, the regidar monthly meetings 
were resumed. President Bigham gave his views on the subject 
of "Slavery in Pennsylvania," in which he stated that the institu- 
tion had no practical hold in Pittsburg, but only a nominal 
])lace here. Mr. J. B. Sheriff retujllected seei;!g a slave near Saw 
Mill Run who was about 80 years old and Itelonged to the 
Brawdy family. On account of his age and inability to work 
Moses Brawdy tried to shove him on the township for support, 
but the township authorities took the matter to court, whei-e, 
under the Emanci|>ation act, the court decided that all old slaves 
had to be maintained by their mastei-s. Judge Parke and David 
W. Miller, Esq., gave their recollections on the same subject, the 
former stating that he had seen slaves on Neville Island, the pro- 
jierty of Gen. Neville, in 1817. W. W. Wallace submitted a 
paper giving liis recollections of over half a century ago. When 
a lad, over sixty years ago, tlour was sold in Pittsburg for ii 
" five franc piece," the common price was one dollar a barrel ; 
wheat, 12i to 20 cents jier bushel ; good beef, li to 2h cents per 
]>ound, and sheep were killed by the liundreds for the pelts, which 
were sent to the eastern cities and sold, the carcasses being taken 
to Allegheny and burned as there was no sale for them. !Mr. 
Wallace gave many other incidents of the olden time. Mr. J. 
B. Sheriff" stated that during his ai)prenticeship he bought peaches 
in the Pittsburg market for a "tip" (6^ cents) a barrel. Mr. 
J. P. Fleming gave an amusing accoinit of the old Quakers, 
Moravians, Mennonites, Covenanters, etc. The latter still cling 
to Rouse's version of David's Psalms, and refuse to vote, as the 
Constitution of the United States has not the name of God in it, 
and therefore they cannot take the oath of allegiance. 

October 4, 1880. 
Rev. Richard Lea, D. D., read a carefully prepared paper on 
his recollections of "Old Penn Street," now Penn avenue, from 
1821 to this date, covering a period of 59 years. The many 



16 niSTOKICAL SOCIETY 

clianges wliich have taken j)lace (luring that period seem )ii<e a 
dream, tliat awakens memories of the past, and in imagination 
the audience was carried back to more youthful days. The chair 
then introduced the Ilev. l^'ather A. A. Lambing, pastor of St. 
Mary of Mercy's Church, wlio gave an interesting account of the 
establishment of the Catholic Ciuirch in this city. " On April 
IG, 1754, the fort began by the English in the previous Febru- 
ary was captured by the Fi'ench, and Fort Diupiesne was soon 
finished. Rev. Dennis Baniii was chaplain of the French forces 
and WIS the first priest or minister of any religious denomination 
in Pittsburg. In November, 1758, the French were driven out 
and nothing further of the history of Catholicism is known until 
1792, when the Rev. Benedict Joseph Flaget, afterward first 
Bishop of Louisville, stopped here from May to November, per- 
forming the duties of his office in a ])rivate house, and ministering 
to the French inhabitants and French soldiers. * * * * j\^(; 
the beginning of the present century not more than half a dozen 
Catholic families had settled in Pittsburg. In 1808 Rev. \V. 
F. X. O'Brien was the first priest to permanently settle in Pitts- 
burg. The first chapel was built on tiie corner of Libert}- and 
Washington streets ; it was (u)mmenced in the spring of that year, 
and was dedicated in 1811. * * * * In 1816 the Catholic 
population was estimated at .300. At the jiresent time (October, 
1880,) tiicre are 40 churches and chapels in the two cities, and 24 
in the county ; one bisliop and 62 priests in the two cities, and 
70,000 Catholics, making a grand total of the two cities and 
county of 1 bisho]>, 85 priests, 64 churches, and 85,000 of a 
Catholic population." 

President Bitjham read a sketch of his aunt, Mrs. Pesrapy 
Christy, who reached her lOOtli year on the 29th of September, 
1880. Mr. B. visited the old lady on the occasion, and found 
her hale and hearty at her home in Westmoreland county, Pa. 

Reu!)en Miller, Jr., gave an account of the first sti^unboat that 
ascended the Allegheny river, in the year 1829, and which was 
nuned after the Beautiful River. It attracted universal attention 
from the natives along the uprivei', who came to the river for 
miles to see the wonderful phenomenon. 

Ca])tain Alex. Hay gave his recollection of the "Boys in 
Itlue,'' on their return from tlie war of 1812. 



OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 17 

The following resolution was unanimously adopted : 

Resolved, That this Association tender its sincere sympathy to 
the afflicted relatives of the late tcrril)le railroad disaster at the 28th 
street crossing, on Saturday evenint,', October Uth, 1880. 

Note. — With those killed outright and the mangled that have 
since died the lo.ss of life amounted to 30, with several that may not 
recover from their wounds. 

Rev. Dr. Lea gave an aiuusing account of Samuel Ewalts' 
scalping an Indian in this vicinity during the Revolutiouary 
n-ar ; lie also related some peculiarities of Gen. Wayne. 

November 11, 1880. 
Capt. John M. Killen submitted a paper ou the life of John 
Kicholsou, deceased, paying a glowing tribute to one who has done 
much to promote the industries of Pittsburg. He was connec- 
ted with the firm of Arthurs, Nicholson & Co., extensive founders, 
of this city. 

The secretary read a paper entitled " Penu Pictures of Old 
Merchants of forty and fifty years ago, and their mode of doing 
business in this city in those early days." 

Capt. J. M. Killen gave his recollections of the Eev. Father 
McGuire, at one time a popular priest of this diocese. 

James Irwin exhibited an original list of Grand and Petit 
Jurors for the April session of the Criminal Court of Allegheny 
County, in the year 1817. 

Capt. Killen read a paper on the olden time of "Bundling," 
a custom in vogue in other days; a disappointed love affair was 
the result. Some of the dignified Judges of the present day fig- 
ured as council when the case was tried in the Courts. 

December 9, 1880. 

Ex-Alderman Black submitted a statement giving an account 
of a market house that at one time stood on Second avenue be- 
tween Smithfield and Wood streets, on a plot similar to the one 
on Second avenue, between Grant and Ross streets, which 
latter space is now used as a small park. 

The Rev. J. C. Boyd, in behalf of the United Presbyterian 
Ministerial Association, submitted a history of the founding of 
that body in Allegheny county, of which the following is a brief 
synopsis: 3 



18 msTonrcAi, snciKTY 

TIiu Associate unci Associate Reformed Ciiurclies, ilie former 
luid ])reacliing in Alleglieny county in the month of October, 
1773. The following ministers were first sent to preach to mem- 
bers of the Associate Church iu this place and vicinity, viz. : 
Revs. John Smith and John Rogers; but in the year 1775 Revs. 
Proudfit and Henderson arrived and the latter was ordained and 
installed ijastorot the Bethsaida congregation, Elizabeth township. 
At the commencement of this century there were not more than 
three or four cojigregations in the county. During the first five 
years of tiiis century what are now known as the First United 
Presbyterian Ciiurches of Pittsburg, St. Clair and IMiffliu 
Churches, and possibly one or two others, were organized. In 
the _year ISIO St. Clair and Miffiin, which formed one pastoral 
charge, had lOG communicants. Bethsaida, Robinson Run, 
Union and the First Church, Pittsburg, had probably eacii an 
equal number. Rev. Robert Bruce, D. D., was pastor of the 
the church in Pittsburg. The United Presbyterian church in 
this county has 56 ministers, 55 congregations and 0,509 conmiii- 
nicants. The baptized youth not in full communion, who are 
not included in this number, probably amount to 40,000. The 
adiiercnts may be set down at 1,000, which would give a total for 
tills county of 50,500. 

Mrs. C. Simpson, of Green Tree, Allegheny county, Pa., stated 
in a jxiper which she read, that she was born in Pittsburg in the 
year 1800. Her recollections of prominent men and incidents that 
took place 60 years ago and upwards, awakened much interest 
during the reading of the paper. 

President Bigham, in some remarks on the severity of former 
winters, said they were more severe then than at the present time, 
for as civilization advances they become less severe. He gave a 
thrilling account of the great flood of February, 1832, when the 
rivers rose to the unprecedented height of 36 feet, submei-ging 
the lower parts of the two cities and causing extraordinary dam- 
age all along their coin-se. 

Rev. J. F. Core, of the Smithfield street M. E. Chin-ch, being 
present, responded to an invitation to address the meeting. He 
said he was pleased to be present to hear of events ihat occurred 
long before he was boiii, and he hoped the matters of fact now 



OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 19 

being hrouglit out would be carefully ])reserveil, and in the future 
a volume would be written which would be a valuable addition 
to the literature of Pittsburg and Western Pennsylvania. At 
the close of the meeting the reverend gentleman pronounced the 
Benediction. 

January 13, 1881. 
Eev. Thomas Sproiill, D. D., of Allegheny City, Pa., the old- 
est minister in that city, submitted a paper giving his recollec- 
tions of Pittsburg and vicinity from the year 1817, wiien a 
boy, in that year, he iirst visited this place witii his father, de- 
scending the Alleghen_y river in the then primitive manner in 
canoes, bringing the product of the farm to the city. After dis- 
posing of the same, providing from the stores the supplies needed 
for family use. whicli were placed in the canoe, with poles and 
paddles they returned to their homes. In the fall of 1828 he 
came to this city and finished his literary studies at the Western 
University, tiien under the tuturage of those able educators. Rev. 
John Black, D. D., and Rev. Robert Bruce, D. L)., whose names 
and fame gave the institution a prenlige that it has enjoyed since 
its infancy. The following j)ersons graduated in the class of 1829, 
viz. : Andrew Bowen, George D. Bruce, Andrew Burke, Thomas 
Sproull and John Wallace. 

Mr. Robert Anderson, of Kittanning, Pa., a former Pitts- 
burger, gave a very interesting history of this city over half a 
century ago. His recollection differs somewhat from others, but 
in the main there is not much discrepancy. 

John F. Jennings presented the Commonweallh, a paper printed 
in Pittsburg, February 26, 1806. Reuben Miller, Jr., presented 
a copy of Pittsburg Mercury, June 14, 1826. President Big- 
ham read an able paper on the early building of court houses, 
market liouses, ])ublic sewers, etc. 

February 10, 1881. 
Mr. Hastings, one of the first iron workers in this city, gave a 
lengthy account of the early manufacture of iron, together with 
the names of the mill owners, and a description of the first inven- 
tion for making angle-iron, with many otiier items of interest 
tiiat ocrinred at that period. 



20 IIISTOKICAL SOCIKTY 

Josiali Co[)ley, Esq., a former editor of the Pittsburg Gazelle, 
read a paper on tiie mode of conducting public liouses over luilf 
a century ago. Tiiey were first known as inns, tiien taverns, 
liotels and saloons, as tliey have been severall3' terineil witliin 
his knowledge. The writer says, " the tendency is not toward 
improvement." In tliat respect the writer closes by saying, 
" The other days were better than the present." 

H. G. Wells, President of the Michigan Pioneer Society, sends 
the congratulations of his Society, and a copy of the proceedings 
of their annual meeting. The chair was instructed to reply 
U) the communication extending cordial salutations. 

Capt. John M. Killen gave a history of the first theatre in the 
city. It was a unsightly old wooden building, was situate on 
Third street now Third avenue, below Sraithfieid street, and on 
the boards trod some ot the celebrated actors of the country. 

March 10, 1881. 
President Bigham stated that Friday, the 4th inst., was the 
two hundredth anniversary oi the signing of the ciiarter (by 
Charles II.) of Pennsylvania, granting it to William Penn. The 
chair slated that tiie two hundredth anniversary of William 
Penn's arrival on the good ship " Welcome," would be celebrated at 
Chester, Pa., in October, 1882. 

A letter was received from R. Patterson, of the Pre/^bi/lerian 
, Banner, desiring inforinaiion of Rev. Solomon Spalding and 
Sidney Rigdon, which persons liad some connection with the 
" Book of Mormon." 

Reuben Miller, Jr., submitted his recollections of the mer- 
chants on the west side of Wood street, in the year 1810, giving 
the names of the occupants of each house. At a future meeting 
he will give the names of the business men on the street. 

President Bigham read a carefully prepared paper on Penn's 
grant of land in the "Manor of Pittsburg," in 1766; he also 
gave a history of the far famed litigation of the Monongaliela 
wharf. This important case was decided by the Supreme Court, 
in 1832, in favor of the city. 

Capt. .1. M. Killeu read an amusing account of a trial b('for<; 
Judge McClure, nearly thirty years ago. The present .Iiulgc 



OF WESTERN PENNSYLVAXIA. 21 

Cnllier, tliL'ii a youin:; altonicy, was appointed by tlie Court to 
defend tlie prisoner, and in an al)le and very adroit man- 
ner, tlie yonthfnl connsellor presented arguments tliat con id 
not be gainsaid, so convincing tiie Court and the jury of tlio in- 
nocence of the prisoner that after a few minutes deliberation he 
was acquitted. 

Mr. Anderson, of Kittanning, witli Mr. D. Fitzinions, gave 
their recollections of Pittsburg in the long ago. 

April 14, IS.Sl. 
The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted asibllows: 

President, Tlionias J. Bighani ; A^ice-Presideiits, Joiin E. 
Parke, R. Miller, Jr., Wm. Little, J. T. Fleming, .John Rippy, 
and Dr. George S. Hays; Ti-easurer, John Fullerton ; Secretary, 
AV. M. Gormly. 

Mrs. George Findley, of the East End, tendered the use of 
her grove for a daylight meeting during the coming season. 

Mr. W. W. Wallace gave an interesting account of the dis- 
covery of the ])rocess of casting "chilled rolls." l)y a Scotchman 
named James liarley, in the year 1833 or '34, from which acci- 
dental discovery the high perfection of the present rolls owes its 
origin. He related some interesting matter concerning the late 
James McCully, who, notwithstauding his extreme poverty on 
his arrival in the city, by dint of energy and perseverance amassed 
a collossal fortime. McCully was a bachelor. Major Frew and 
other relatives acquired his fortune, which was said to be over 
$1,000,000. 

Reuben Miller, Jr. continued his recollections of Wood street. 

John B. Sheriff read a paper on the mode of building school 
houses in Mercer county. Pa., sixty years ago, with a description of 
the pedagogues of that day. 

Gen. J. !M. K. Snodgrass gave his views as to the location of 
"Logstown," a question that has occupied so much of the time of 
the Society heretofore. 

In a communication from James M. Swank, of Philadelphia, 
on the first blast lurnace in Allegheny county, he fixes the date in 
17U4, and what is known as Sliatlysidi', on the Penii'^yK-ania rail- 
road, as the place. 



/ 



ii HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

Ju<lg;e Parke read a carefully prepared tribute to the nieniorv 
of llie late Charles Brewer, a former merchant of this city, one 
well known for his many deeds of charity, and who with his 
great wealth, which he used with ninoh judgment, brought good 
cheer to many deserving persons. 

May 12, 1881. 
The chair announced that he iiad received a letter from S. 
Milnor Roberts, Esq., now in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mr. 
Roberts stated that he read with great ])leasure the reports in the 
papers he received in that distant country of the proceedings of 
our meetings. He gave an interesting description of Brazil and 
its chief ruler, Doni Pedro. He is engased there in constriictiny; 
harbors, railroads and other ini[)rovements. 

Captain Wm. Stewart, of Steubenville, Ohio, formerly of this 
city, stated that he came to Pittsburg in the year 1808, the year 
of the famous "Pumpkin flood." His account of the introduc- 
tion of the jiest known as the mosquito on a keel boat from the 
southern country, in 1810 or '11 was amusing. He also gave an 
interesting account of the first sailing vessel built and launched 
from the port of Pittsburg, by Brintnell Robbins, the trij) 
tiown the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to N^ew Orleans, the voy- 
age to England and the capture of the vessel by the English as a 
j)irate. The officers were sore i)re.ssed to convince our English 
cousins that there was such a place as Pittsburg where a vessel 
of such magnitude could be built. \t this late day our English 
neighbors are as conversant with the location of our city as they 
are with that of New York. The venerable captain, who has 
l)assed by ten his fourscore years, as allotted by the Psalmist, was 
unanimuusly elected an honorary mondjcr of this Society. 

Scjilemiirr 14, 1881. 
President Bigliam said, since we last met, and din-ing our recess, 
a dastardly outrage had been perpetrated on the person of the 
President of the United States, James A. Garfield, who had been 
shot down in the railroad de[)ot, Washington City, D. C, by one 
Charles A. Guiteau. In view of these remarks a committee was 
apjiointed, consisting of Judge J. E. Parke, Ca[)t. John M. Kil- 
leu and Joseph T. Johnston, who in a short time reported a series 
of strong resolutions denouncing the act as diabolical in the ex- 
treme. 



I)F WESTKRX PEXXSYI.VAXIA. 23 

October 13, 1881. 
Since tlie Society last met tlie fears of the nation have been 
realized : President James A. Garfield died at Long Branch, N. 
J., Sept. 19, 1881, at 11 o'clock, P. M. This Society, to show its 
ntter abhorrence of snch an infamous crime, and its sympathy for 
the bereaved widow and fatherless children, adojited a series of 
resolutions which will be found engrossed on the mimite book, 
pages 152 to 156, inclusive. 

I^lie chair stated that he had received a letter from Harrison A. 
Gleini, Tipton, Mo., expres.sing kind feelings for Pittsburg, at 
one time his home. He resides at the first mentioned place with 
three widowed sisters, the motto of their home being, " Pence, 
Plenty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," witii the " latch string 
out to Pittsburgers." 

November- 10, 1881. 
"Old Time Ferries," was the subject of an elaborate paper pre- 
])ared and read by Judge Parke. His record commenced before 
the erection of any of the many bridges that now span the rivers. 
It was replete with facts, anecdotes and incidents of the early 
times, when this ])kice was considered an outpost of civilization. 

President Bigliam read a lengthy i)a|ier on the burning of 
Hannahstown, Westmoreland county. Pa., by the Indians, over a 
hundred years ago. This was the only place of legal record in 
all Western Pennsylvania. Westmoreland county was the onlv 
connty west of the Allegheny mountains to the Ohio and Vir- 
ginia State lines. 'The loss to the early settlers was very great, 
but time has renewed all long since. 

John Brisbin gave his recollections of Saw Mill Run, half a 
century ago. He was familiar with the names of the earlv set- 
tlers and their customs. The meeting enjoyed the treat and re- 
quested Mr. Brisbin to continue his favors. 

December 8, 1881. 
A hearty vote of thanks of the Society was tendered to An- 
drew Carnegie, Esq., of this city for his liberal offer of a quarter 
million dollars to establish a free library for the use of the 
citizens, with the understanding that the city councils in aecejit- 
ing it should obligate themselves to pay six j)er cent, on the 
amomit to su|iport the same. 



24 HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

Will. Cutler read a paper giving liis iecolleetions of General 
Lafayette's arrival in Pittsburg in 1825. Also a vivid descrip- 
tion of a fire on j\Iari<et near Liberty street, in tlie winter of 
1822,at which Richard M. KoneUee'ssister andchild were cremated, 
the parents being absent at the time tlie conflagration took place. 
He was present and saw the commencement of excavations for 
laying the foundation of the first Trinity Church on Sixth 
avenue. 

Josiah Copley stated that he carried the mail on horseback in 
1818, once a week from Indiana to Kittanning, and thence to 
Butler via Freeport. He related some incidents regarding the 
building and launching of a steamboat at Freeport, by Capt. 
Edward Hart, of Boston, Mass., in the same year. Capt. Uart 
was a gentleman of noble character. 

President Bigham gave an extensive account of " How the 
Knights of the G.jlden Horseshoe" crossed the Allegheny moun- 
tains, which was full of interest and daring adventures. 

Samuel C. Lewis read an article on his assisting to roll the first 
bar of iron in this county. 

January 12, 1882. 
The Secretary read a letter fi-om Andrew Carnegie, Esq., 
thanking the Society for the resolutions of res^iect to him for his 
offer to found a free library in this city. 

John Murdock, James Moore and Samuel C. Lewis submitted 
])apers on the early annals of Pittsburg, recalling many iuci- 
deuts of the past history of this place. 

The chair inquired if any one ])resent could give the date of 
General Lafayette's arrival in Pittsburg. Several dates were 
mentioned, when the Secretary stated tiiat Zell's Gazetteer fixed 
the date June, 1825. 

James P. Fleming read a happily conceived pajier entitled, 
" A Century's Ketrodiielion." He crossed the broad Atlantic 
and gave much useful information regarding the old world, and 
recrossing, he gave a delightful view of the progress of the coun- 
try in all its various branches of industry. He stated that the 
fii-st newspaper published in the United States was in Boston, 



OK WESTKUN PENNSYLVANIA. 25 

Mass., September 25, 1609. Its title was Public Occurrances 
both Foreign and Domestic. It was immediately suppressed. In 
1704 the Botton News Letter made its appearance. In 1719 the 
first |)aper was piiblisiied in Philadeli)liia, and six years later the 
New Gazette made its appearance in that city. The writer con- 
tinues and states that American enterpi-ise leads the World in 
all branches of journalism, the greater part of the history of 
which is inclu<led in the present century. The paper closes with 
sketches of cities and towns of the past, some of which liave 
fallen out by the wayside, and are scarcely known, while 
many opulent cities, whose sites were, less than a hundred years 
ago, covered by forest trees, are now densely populous and pros- 
perous. 

February 9, 1882. 
Judge John E. Parke [)repared and read an able paper on the 
judiciary, bar, ministry, medical and theatrical professions. The 
latter profession was largely re[)resented by the young gentlemen 
of bygone days. The Judge stated that he Iiad been identified 
with the profession in his youthful days, and appeared before the 
footlights. Rev. J. J. Marks is now the only one alive who ap- 
peared with him. 

President Bigham gave a very interesting account of the Bi- 
Centennial of the landing of William Penn, and the preparations 
being made at Ciiester, Pa., to celebrate the event October next, 
also the cirjumstances under which the State of Pennsylvania 
received its name. 

March 9, 1882. 
The Secretary read a letter from Gen. James A. Ekin, Deputy 
Quartermaster-General, U. S. Army, renewing a promise made 
some time since, of delivering a memorial lecture on the late Rev. 
Drs. Black, Bruce and Kerr. 

Mrs. Simpson gave recollections of the great flood that swept 
over Smoky Island, below the north end of the suspension bridge. 
The house, crops and all the effects belonging to a family by the 
name of Brown were destroyed with the loss of the island. Great 
was the peril of tlie occuixmts when the water came up so rapidly. 
Their only means of escape to the main land being a canoe tlint 

4 



26 11IST(>KI(,'AI> SOCIKTY 

was unfortunately carried oft. A Iiorse-trougli was quickly util- 
ized, and the family reached the main land in Allegheny, but 
saved nothing except what was on their hacks, house, land, crops 
and all had disappeared in the seetiiing waters. 

Josiah Kiug, Esq., read a paper that he had pi'epared and read 
before the Philological Society of this city forty-two years ago, 
which was jieculiarly interesting, as the (juestion therein discussed 
is now agitating our representatives in Congress, viz. : " A canal 
across the isthmus." Mr. Kiug gave his views of the route and 
probable cost of the ship canal connecting the two great oceans, 
and bringing into closer relation the nations of the old and the 
new world, and also the impetus that commerce througiiout the 
world would receive. Wlieu this paper was written some who 
are now in our national councils were not born, and others were 
iu their swaddling clothes. Mr. King was i-e<piested to have the 
same published in pamphlet form for general circulation, a request 
which has i)een complied with. 

April 13, 1882. 

J. P. Fleming, chairnian of the committee appointed at the last 
meeting reported as follows : 

To the President (iiid Si'Cfdanj of the '" Old Residents' Aaxociation and 
Historical Soeietij of Western Pennsylvania : " 

Your Committee on Officers and Organization respectfully report: 

First, That the present iifticei-s he re-elected for the coming year. 

Secondly, That we drop that portion of our title, " Old Residents' 
Association," and retain the balance, viz. : " Historical Society of 
Pittsburg and Western Pennsylvania," by whicii name the Associa- 
tion shall hereafter be known. 

Thirdly. That persons of any age who take an interest in the object 
of our organization be eligible to membership. 

Fourthly, That our object shall be to collect and per]>etuate tacts 
relating to our local history, by securing the legendry and tradi- 
tional before they pass into the region of myths. 

J. P. Flk.minc;, Chainnan. 

The report, after some discussion, was adopted, and the name 
of the Association will henceforth be: 

"Historical Society of Pittsburg and Western Pennsylvania." 

The Secretary read another letter from Gen. James A. Ekin, 
saying that be expected to be in Pittsburg next month, and 



OF WESTERN PENNSYLVAXIA. 21 

deliver the memorials ou the lives of Drs. Black, Bruce and Kerr. 
The General forwarded a Confederate bond for the arcliives of 
the Association. 

Hon. W. A. Kulins, of Greensburg, Pa., in a paper, gave his 
recollections of Pittsburg foi upwards of half a century. 

J. P. Fleming, Esq., presented a paper entitled " Footprints of 
Justice; the Bencii, Bar and Scaffold." It told how justice was 
administered in our courts in "ye olden time." 

May 11, 1882. 
The Secretary read a letter from Gen. Ekin, expressing regret 
for his inability to be present to read his memorial. He hoped, 
however, to be here in the fall and meet his engagement. 

Judge Parke gave his recollections of the early ministers and 
judges of Western Pennsylvania. Prominent as a judge was 
Samuel Roberts, who settled in Pittsburg in 1803, died in office 
in 1820, and was succeeded by the late Judge William Wilkins. 
Alexander Addison was admitted to the Presbytery of Redstone, 
December 20, 1785, and preached in the bounds of the Presby- 
tery, but he subsequently received a call from the church in 
Washington, Pa. In a short time he relinquished the ministry, 
studied law, and in due time was admitted to the bar in Allegheny 
county, where hebecame famousasan able lawyer. He wasengaged 
in many important cases till he wius appointed Judge of the Fifth 
Judicial District, where he sat about twelve years on the bench. 

The announcement was made tiiat it was customary to take a 
recess during the summer months, until the second Thursday of 
September, but a vote being taken on the question, it was decided 
to hold a meeting on the second Thursday of June. 

June 8, 1882. 

The meeting assemijled, but no business of importance was 
transacted, owing to the small number present. 

September 14, 1882. 
President Bigham read a lengthy article on the burning of 
Hannahstown, Westmoreland county, Pa., by the Indians, on the 
13th of July, 1782. The centennial of the occasion was 
duly observed on the 13th of July last, vast multitudes being 
present. This Society was represented by President Bigham, 
who took part on the occasion. 



28 ■ HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

Reuben Miller, Jr., gave another chapter of his recollections 
of the residents on the southeast side of Wood street, as far up as 
Fourth avenue. This history embraced the time the country 
was engaged iu the war with Great Britain, 1812 to '15. 

R. J. Stoney, Esq., cashier of the Anchor Bank, presented a 
ten dollar note of the defunct Farmers & Mechanics Bank of 
Pittsburg, Pa., dated April 20, 1825, letter C, No. 949, G. 
Luckey, cashier, John Scull, president. This bank was located 
on Fourth avenue, on the ground now occupied by the Iron City 
National Bank. 

Judge Parke gave an account of the once famous " Scully 
Sj)rings," that seventy years ago attracted much attention on ac- 
count of their curative properties. These springs are now only a 
short distance from the west end of the city limits, on the south 
side of the Ohio river. 

President Bigham gave a thrilling account of a massacre by 
the Indians, at Wheeling, W. A'^a., before civilization had made 
much progress. The speaker related the heroic act of a young 
lady in risking her life ; who, when it was discovered that the 
ammunition was running short, left the fort during the engage- 
ment and secured a keg of powder that did good service and soon 
ended hostilities. 

October 12, 1882. 

Reuben Miller, Jr., and Judge Parke, gave further reminis- 
/ cences of the past ; the former on the residents of Wood street, 
the latter finishing his account of " Scully's Springs." 

B. A. Janvier, Washington, D. C, wrote that he had a paint- 
ing of Pittsburg that was executed iu 1790, which he desired to 
sell. But as he had not given his price the Secretary addressed 
him a letter of inquiry to which he had not received a reply. 

As an illustration of the vast increase in the value of real 
estate, the Secretary cited a case on Smithfield street, the lot 
bounded by Fifth avenue and Diamond street, and now occupied 
by the Howard Block. The transaction occurred nearly eighty 
years ago. The writer's father was a carpenter who was called 
on by the owner of the ground, who oflered the lot for sale at 
$350, payable as follows : $100 the first year, $100 the second 



OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA- 29 

year, a:ul $1.50 the third year, to be paid for in carpenter woriv 
at the full rates of the book of prices, which were pretty high. 
The area of the lot is 240 feet front on Smitlifield street, by 60 
feet in depth on Fiftii avenue and Diamond streets. On the 
purchaser making known tliese facts to his brother, he at once 
berated iiim for making such a Iwd bargain, giving as his reasons 
that his children or gi-and-chiidren would never live to see the lot 
worth $50, as it would never be anything more than a liog-pond, 
which it tiien was, and for many years after. In a few years after 
Abner Updegraff" bonglit the same lot for $750 cash, and occupied 
and held it until his death, when his heirs erected the handsome 
block that now occupies the ground. The property to-day is 
worth over lialf a million dollars, and the children of the first 
purchaser, as well as grand-children and great-grand-children, 
have lived to see the mistaken judgment of the brother who ad- 
vised against the purchase. With the continued growth of the 
city in the next twenty- five years, the writer would predict that 
the value of this property will be a round million dollars. 

November 9, 1882. 
A letter was received from B. A. Janvier, Washington, D. C, ^ 
stating that he would sell liis painting of Pittsburg, executed 
in 1790, for $500. The offer wa.s declined. 

A testimonial of respect on the death of Ex-Mayor Alex.- 
Hay, one of the original members of this Society, was adopted, 
and the proceedings ordered to be entered on the minutes, which 
has been done on pages 215, 216 and 217. 

December 14, 1882. 

The Secretary read extracts from a letter published in the Dis- 
patch, Decendjer 11, written l)y Mrs. Jane G. Swisshelm, in 
which she has fallen into error in reference to an incipient riot 
that occurred in Pittsburg over half a century ago; the cause of 
the disturbance being an attempt made by Avery Allen, from the 
western part of New York, to give an exposure of Free Masonry 
in the warehouse of Daniel Speer, Liberty street, opposite 
Seventh avenue. The lecturer, Avery Allen, came to this city 
subsequent to the abduction of Wm. Morgan, of Rochester, N. 
Y., for a similar attempt in that city. Mrs. Swisshelm, in com- 
menting on a sworn statement left by the late Thurlow Weed, of 



30 HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

Utica, N. Y., on tlie Morgan abduction, stated that the difficulty 
occurred when slie was a little girl of about seven years of age, 
in the year 1822, when her father took her to see the exhibition. 
But the trouble was in fact described in the Pittsburgh Oazctte 
(if August 30, 1833, as tailing place the night previous, hence 
the criticism. 

Capt. J. M. Killen gave an interesting account of Piesic'ent 
Monroe's visit to Pittsburg, in the year 1817. He entered the 
then embryo city from the south side, descending the hill on the 
old Washington road and crossed the ferry at the foot of Smith- 
field street, the old wooden bridge being then in course of 
erection. He was met by a cominittee of citizens and hand- 
somely entertained by the l)urgcrs. 

L. D. McCandless read an account of a debating society that 
was organized in Birniingliam (now South Side) in which two 
prominent citizens took [lart nearly fifty years ago. The gentle- 
men were Andrew Burt, then a glass blower (now deceased) who 
afterwards liecame celeljrated as an educator and author of a 
grammar bearing his name; the other a wholesale grocer, and 
now the well known criminal lawyer, Thomas M. Marshall. He 
also gave a resume of a murder that took place nearly sixty yeai^s 
ago, a short distance from the now city line, on Chartiers creek, 
with the arrest of the murderer and his escape from the old jail 
in jail alley, now Decatur street. The community at that day 
had not become so familiarized with homicides as at the present, 
hence the excitement was intense and widespread. The names 
are omitted on account of some of the descendants still living. 

J. B. Crawford, in a communication, stated that he came to 
Pittsburg in 1825, and learned the clockmaking and silversmith 
business with John Wallace, on ISIarket street; recalled the names 
of early steamboats, and remembered being present when the gov- 
ernment officials tested cannon near Hog pond, op])osite the site 
of the present post office. 

January 11, 1883. 
Since the last meeting of the Society, three of the members 
have been called on to answer the "last summons." Ere the close 
of the year 1882, died, James Lippencott, Thomas MacConuell 



l)|- WKSTKHN rKNNSYI.VANIA. 



31 



iiiul Josiah Kiiiij. At tliis nioeting suitable testimonials were 
adopted to the memoiy <>f the dejiarted, and engrossed on the 
niimites of the Society. Tiie deceased were old citizens of Pitts- 
burg, and enjoyed the confidence of their fellow-men; the first 
being a merchant, the second an able lawyer, while the last was 
one of the proprietors and editors of the Commercial- Gazette. 

Capt. Joiin ]\I. Kiilen read a paper covering ids recollections 
for a period of five years of ])rogress of the city on the South 
Side and East End. The growtli of these portions has been 
wonderful. His paper referred to changes in the early pait of 
fifty years ago. 

D. S. McCandle.ss submitted a paiier on the characteristics of 
the " Old Drayman," of the long ago; this ela-ss being a very 
important factor in tlie business interests of the olden time, but 
their occupation, "Othello like," is gone. There are only two 
of the old draymen in the city at this time (A])ril 1884,) viz : John 
Boyd and John W. Haney. The merchandise that was formerly 
handled on two wheeled vehicles with long tails, or skids, is now 
drawn on four wheeled trucks and wagons. 

Ex-Mayor McCarthy gave a vivid description of the " Pick- 
ings' Circus riot," that occurred in this city in the year 1824, in 
which a man named Murry was fatally shot. 

Thos. Marshall described very minutely the building of the 
canal tunnel from Seventh avenue to Tiy street, in the years 
1827-28, and the fatal fall of a Miss Slagle, in the deep excava- 
tion. 

Note. — It is not generally known when the State engineers com- 
menced the erection of this work. They intended to tunnel through 
the hill, expecting a rock roof hut after several weeks' experience 
they were unable to hold the top up, engineering being then in its 
infancy here. Failing in this, they conmienced on the top of the hill 
and excavated the whole till they reached the bottom when they 
commenced the building of the heavy brick arch, with cut stone en- 
trances. When this was completed tiie earth was carted back and 
dumped in on the arch, and the hill was restored to its original 
height. The engineers of the Pennsylvania Railroad twenty years 
ago put a tunnel through almost on the line of the above but as they 
ilid not go so deep they had to demolish the old tunnel and penetrated 
the hill from either end, supporting the top as they progressed and 
utilizing the old canal tunnel as a sewer for drainage purposes. 



32 HISTOKKAL SOCIETY 

March 8, 1883. 
Vice President Jas. P. Fleming occupied tiie ciiair. Capt. 
Kilien, from Iiis remarkable fund of information, gave a racv 
description of the manner in which coal was transported from 
our hills in the vicinity of the city in the old-fashioned flat bot- 
tom boats to the western and southern markets. But the hazard 
being too great, a change was necessary, and the present system of 
barges towed by steam tugs has superseded the old system of 
transporting the "black diamon<ls" to the lower marts. 

Chairman Fleming related an old time incident of one, Presly 
De Val, a man skilled, heroic, daring and equal to any emergency 
on the waters; De Val, during his rambles drifted to Japan 
where he was once on a ves.sel on which were members of the royal 
family, when a fire broke out. The officers losing control of the 
crew, prospects of a watery grave became imminent; at this junc- 
ture De Val asked the officer and the royal family to place 
him in command, which was promptly done, when with drawn 
revolvers he ordered every man to the pumps and maintaining a 
rigid discipline succeeded in saving the vessel and all on board. 

The Secretary announced that he had a correspondence with 
Hon. J. W. F. White of the Court of Common Pleas, and that 
his honor had consented to deliver an address on the "Judiciary 
of Allegheny County" from its inception to the present time, and 
further that the trustees of the Smithfield M. E. Church, had 
kindly granted the use of their church edifice for the occasion, the 
time fixed being April 12, next. 

Chairman Fleming read an interesting paper on the i)ast and 
present " Postal " facilities of the country. In tlie " olden time" 
postage was charged according to the distance a letter had to travel ; 
to New Orleans, '.Mh cts.. New York, 25 cts., Philadelphia, 18f cts., 
Harrisburg, 12| cts., Greensburg, 6J cts. Decimal coin was not 
plenty, Si)auish coin being in general circidation, and known as 
quarters, levies and ftps. 

AprilU, 1883. 

The committee appointed at the last meeting to suggest the names 
of officers for the ensuing year, reported the following, who were 
unanimously elected. 



OF WESTERN PENNSYl-VAXFA. 35 

President, Jolin E. Parke ; Vice Presidents, T. J. Bigliani, J. 
P. Fleming, K. Miller, Jr., Win. Little, John Rippy, and Capt. 
J. M. Killeu ; Secretary, W. M. Gornily ; Treasurer, John Fiil- 
lerton. 

The committee recommended the following which was unani- 
mously adopted, viz: Inasnui«h as the physical infirmities usu- 
ally the lot of members of the human family who live beyond 
the age of threescore and ten years have seriously affected Hon. 
Thomas J . Bigham, who has been our president since the organiza- 
tion, your committee has concluded to comply with the desire he 
expressed several times last winter to be permitted to retire from 
the presidency of our association. In conclusion your committee 
recommend the adoption of the following : 

Resolved, that the thanks of this Society are due and are lioreby 
tendered to our retiring President for the valuable historical informa- 
tion for which we are indebted to him, and for the zeal aiid industry 
with which he has discharged his duties as our presiding officer. 

(.Signed,; 

John M. Killex, ^ 

S. D. McCandless, V Committee. 

W. M. GORMLY, j 

The report of the committee as read was unanimously adopted 
and ordered to be entered on the minute.s. 

Judge Parke on taking the chair, in a few happy remarks 
thanked the Society for the honor conferred on him in elevating 
him to the presidency ; he asked the indulgence of the members 
for his imperfections, and pledged himself to discharge the duties 
of the oifioe to the best of his ability. 

The chair introduced to the audience the Hon. J. W. F. White, 
of Common Pleas Court, No. 2, of Allegheny County, who de- 
livered his able and exhaustive address entitle<l the 

"Judiciary of Alkglienij County," 

from the commencement of the court to the present time. The 
address lias been printed, and is well worthy a perusal for the 
valuable information it contains. It is hardly necessary to state 
that a rising vote of thanks was tendered Judge White. 

5 



34 UISTORICAL SOCIETY 

May 10, 1883. 

Vice President Bigliam, in an animated argument refuted tlie 
claim that Virginia at one time s^et up to Washington county in 
this State as a part of lier territory. When tlie subject was 
brought before the highest judicial court of tlie nation for settle- 
ment the gauzy claim of tlic State that gloried in being tlie motlier 
of Presidents, vanished in the air as thin %'apor before the morning 
sun, and Washington county remains in the Keystone State ot 
the Federal Arch. 

Capt. Jno. M. Kilien read an amusing and interesting ]iapcr 
from his own observation entitled, " Plantation Darkies," in whicii 
their peculiar customs were delineated iu a very iiappy manner by 
the versatile captain. 

Beplemher 13, 1883. 
The summer recess now over, the members of tlie Society are 
prepared to continue their worlc. 

President Parke, chairman of the committee to procure certifi- 
cates for membership of the Society reported progress and 
asked further time to complete the work. The same gentleman 
read a tribute to memory of Henry B. Earl, a former merchant 
and to tlie " Manor born." 

Harrison A. Gleim, of Tipton, Moniteau Co., Mo., was unani- 
mously elected a corresponding member of this Society. 

On motion of J. P. Fleming that Article 12 be so altered and 
amended that the office of Corresponding Secretary be created, 
the amendment receiving a tW'O-third vote was declared by the 
chair as carried. 

The Recording Secretary was elected to the position for the 

present. 

October 11, 1883. 

A large number of ladies jiresent — drawn by the announce- 
ment in the press that Mrs. Tliropj) Cone, of Valley Forge, 
would read a paper. The chair introduced the lady who read a 
paper entitled " A Plea for Valley Forge." The paper was well 
written and read in fascinating manner, and gave a lucid account 
of the sufferings of the early settlers of that part of the State 
from the Indians. 



OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 35 

A motion was adopted tlianking the lady for tlie address, and 
a committee was appointed to prepare a paper in belialf of" tlie 
object set fortli in tlie paper read, consisting of Messrs. Irwin, 
Fleming, Killen, Gormly, and President Parice. 

J. P. Fleming, Esq., read a paper showing " man's inhnmanity, 
etc." Many years ago an emig^rant reached onr city, and as this 
world's goods were scarce witii her, she settled in what was then 
known as Pipetown — now the npper part of the Second Ward, 
where she took in washing, and by dint of perseverance acquired 
some means. Some time after her settlement here she desired to 
.see a friend in the country some distance from the city, and 
making her journey on foot, called at a fine looking farm 
house to rest a short time and make inquiries as to her des- 
tination. The owner a pleasant old man engaged her in conver- 
sation, inquired of her as to her native place and name ; on learn- 
ing whicii he swooned. He was her own father. He had left 
his wife and family in the old country; came to this country, 
married again and raised another family. The daughter left the 
recreant father and the ne.xt day reached her sister who only lived 
a few miles from her unnatural father, in ignorance of the fact. 

President Parke read an elaborate eulogy on the late H. H. 
McCullougli, at one time a prominent wholesale druggist, of 
Pittsburg, who suffered heavy pecuniary loss in the great fire of 
April JO, 1845, and who died May 3, 1883, at Newark, N. J. 

The following persons were elected life membei's of the Society, 
viz; C. G. Donnelly, Chas. C.Dickey, -John Davis, A. M. Samuel, 
P. Schriver, Henry Irwin, Thos. Brown and James W. Drape. 

Corresponding members. Henry C. Wagner, Sec'y Historical 
Society, Baltimore; Rev. Cyrus Cort, Greencastle, Franklin Co., 
Pennsylvania; W. H. Egle, M. D., Harrisburg, Pa.; R. B. Cham- 
berlin, New Brighton, Pa.; Gt-'orge Connell, M. D., Youngstown, 
Ohio; Boyd Crumrine, Washington, Pa.; J. T. Sliryock, (Editor,) 
Zanesville, Ohio ; Silas Farmer, Historian. Detroit, Mich.; Mrs. 
Kate B. Sherwood, Editress, Toledo, Oli'to, Sundai/ Journal ; Miss 
Amelia Thropp, Sec'y Valley Forge Monumental Association ; 
Mrs. M. E. Thropi) Cone, Valley Forge, Pa.; Rev. Horace E. 
Hayden, Wilkesbarrc, Pa., annual member, Patrick McGaw. 



36 HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

November 8, 1883. 
Tlie Society considered tlie offer of Mr. Andrew Carnegie, 
November, 1881, which lias been very quiet for some time; but 
wit!) a view of bringing it before tlie public the matter Avas dis- 
cussed this evening. The debt of the city having exceeded the 
constitutional limit, the municipal authorities hesitate to obligate 
themselves to pay the $15,000 annual interest, for the support of 
the Free I^ibraiy. 

The Recording Secretary asked to be relieved of the duties of 
Corresponding Secretary, and an election was held that resulted 
in David W. Miller being chosen to fill the vacancy. 

J. P. Fleming, Esq., offered the following resolution : 

Resolved, that the Secretary be instructed to solicit the attendance 
at our meetings of Professors Luckey, INIorrow and Johnston, Super- 
intendents of the cities and county, with a view of awaking in them 
an interest in the object of our Association, and through them cul- 
tivating in the pupils of our schools a taste for the study of the early 
liistory of Pennsylvania. 

Mr. L. H. Eaton endorsed the resolution. 

The following gentlemen were elected life members, viz : 
Leonard H. Eaton, Edward Gregg, Brice Lemmon, Dr. llobert 
B. Maury and Charles Harrison. Annual meuiber Samuel 
Fields. 

December 13, 1883. 

A large audience was attracted this evening, evidently from the 
interesting papers to be read. The first paper was that of the 
Rev. A. A. Lambing, entitled, "Celeron's Expedition," from 
Canada, to the Allegheny river, thence down the La Belle riviere, 
now known as the Ohio. This expedition took place in 1749, 
and was attended with much danger, as several of the Indian 
tribes in those early days were very unfriendly, and the risk 
was intensified to the expedition. The jiarty was French, and 
to carry out the plan then followed by France, they had a 
number of leaden plates cast with inscription asserting the claim 
of their nation, which they buried at different points on the 
route. Only one or two of those plates have, as yet, been found. 
A part of one that was discovered is now in jiossession of the 
Historical Society of Massachusetts. 



OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 37 

Prof. T. J. Chapman, princiiial of tlie Nortli Public Scliool 
followeil, in a carefully prepared article, entitled " Old Time 
Slavery in Pennsylvania." This papei- al)onnded in facls in ref- 
erence to the old and barbarous system of human bondage as it 
existed in the latter part of the ))ast and the beginning of the 
]>resent century. The j)aper was an expose of the once boasted 
" Social System " of the Southern States, that met its death in 
the late Rebellion. 

Prof. D. C. Holmes, one of the oldest educators in our public 
schools, submitted a paper giving his experience as a teacher, 
j)ointing to many, as his former pupils, who are now occupying 
places of honor and distinction among their fellow-men, viz.; 
Judge John H. Bailey, James O'Hara, Isaac Craig, Thomas 
P. Blair, N. K. Wade, James B. Scott, Rev. George W. Sc^tt, 
Dr. J. Grey McCandless, Samuel Harper, George H. Anderson, 
and many others. 

The following list of life members was announced, viz.: 
Francis Torrence, Theo. Sproull, Charles LocUhart, Fiidey Tor- 
rens, John G. Holmes, John E. Parke, John Fidlerton, James P. 
Fleming, Captain John M. Killen, Rev. A. A. Lambing and W. 
M. Gornily. Annual members, John W. McCully, Charles 
Ream and Dr. George H. Kyser. 

The Secretary made the following acknowledgments of dona- 
tions to the Society, viz ; from James F. Wilson, an old Day 

Book of Barker, dated 1803, also " Harris' City Directory" 

for 1839, from A. Westerwelt. A pamphlet from the Historical 
Society, Buffalo, N. Y. Also a crude iron handcuff, from the 
late .Joseph H. Kuhns, of Greensburg, Pa. Mr. K. stated that 
it was found at the dej)th of about ten inches in his garden and 
it was presumed to have been used during the Whiskey Rebellion 
of 1791-1794, 

Judge Parke read a paper on the occupancy of "Valley 
Forge " as a National Park, in which he stated that Senator 
Vorhees, of Indiana, had ably advocated the project. He also 
stated that he had been informed of an Indian execution that had 
taken place at the corner of Wood street and Fifth avenue, between 
the years 1760 and 1776. 



38 HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

January 10, 1884. 

Tlie great snow storm that prevailed on the 8th iust., by wiiich 
tlie streets were rendered ahnost impassable prevented many mem- 
bers from being present, and there being no quorum tlie Society 
adjourned to February 14. 

Fehruari) 14, 1884. 

Rev. A. A. Lambiug read a very logical answer to criticisms 
on the paper lie had read at the December meeting ; his critic wrote 
under the nom-de-plume of " De-un-daga," iu the Chronicle Tele- 
graph. 

James W. Drape, Esq., read a carefully prepai'ed paper on the 
"Discovery of Petroleum, or Rock Oil, in Pennsylvania." . Mr. 
Drape dated the discovery of this important factor in the com- 
merce of the Keystone State to the commencement of this cen- 
tury; it steadily grew up to about the year 1858 or 18(50, when 
it entered actively the marts of commerce, and is to-day one of 
the largest branches of in;Uistry in the State. The products of 
Pennsylvania's oil wells are distributed to all parts of the world ; 
even the ancient city of Jerusalem is lighted by oil from our State. 

Jas. P. Fleming, Esq., one of the vice presidents of this Society 
sent an interesting letter from Fl.jrida to the Society, describing 
many of the ancient Spanish landmarks founded when that nation 
occupied that j^ortion of our country. 

Hon. Thomas Mellon and William H. Smith, were admitted 
as life members of the Society. 

It was resolved that every member of the Society reading a 
paper before it be required, and every person not a member read- 
ing a paper be requested to leave a copy with the Secretary ; and 
that such paper be tlie property of the Society, but cannot be pub- 
lished without the consent of the writers. 

Ilarch ] .3, 1 884. 
An interesting paper was sent from Rochester, Pa., giving a 
history of tlie Pittsburg Novelty Works, established 1833, by 
Iv. R. Livingston. The writer states that he was a former employe 
in tiie establishment, also that some of the other employes acquired 
a national re|)utation, viz : Bartley Campbell and the Vandergriffs. 
Some came out preachers, lawyers, doctors, judges, mayors, 



OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. •3'' 

legislator?, ami one of the boys arose to the diguity of United 
States senator. 

W. Gibson Miller, a steamboat clerk of forty years ago, con- 
tributed a racy and well written paper on the manners and customs 
of steamboat life in his early days. The ]iaper was replete with 
interesting incidents of the river, and the customs then prevalent 
before the days of railroads in Pittsburg. The competition for 
passengers and freigiit fully equaled the great rivalry of the 
trunk lines of railroad from New York to the broad expanse of 
the western prairies. 

Rev. A. A. Lambing contril)uted an interesting article, entitled 
"Detached Papers." This paper brought out facts of the early 
history of Pittsburg, heretofore unknown. 

With this meeting will close the first five years of the existence 
of the Society. The compiler of this digest of the proceedings of 
tiic past half decade of our history desires to express thanks to 
God for his goodness to us as a Society. We have had so many 
oj)portunities to meet together, and l)y om- intercourse with one 
anotiier, to be enabled to accomplish much in securing historical 
facts that otiierwise would uever have been brought to light. "As 
iron sharpetli iron, &c." so have our memories been refreshed and 
we have been permitted to toil and labor that in long after years 
others may ])erchance be benefitted by the '' seed we have sown." 
The compiler of this synopsis of the worlc, would be derelict in 
his duty if he did not acknowledge the kind courtesies of the 
members of this Society to him in overlooking liis imperfections, 
as scribe for these ])ast five years; and his desire is that one 
more competent and faithful will be secured to fill his place. 

A committee was appointed, consisting of Capt. J. M. Killen, 
Rev. A. A. Lambing, and Prof. L. H. Eaton, to review, revise 
and prepare the aforesaid work for )Miblication. It is now com- 
mitted to the tender mercies of the committee fur their unbiased 
judgment. 



